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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A direction to play lively and fast.






2. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






3. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






4. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.






5. A composition written for eight instruments.






6. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






7. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






8. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






9. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






10. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






11. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






12. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






13. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






14. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






15. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






16. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






17. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






18. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






19. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






20. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






21. Closing section of a movement.






22. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






23. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






24. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






25. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.






26. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






27. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






28. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






29. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






30. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






31. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






32. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






33. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






34. The range of an instrumental or a vocal part.






35. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






36. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






37. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






38. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






39. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






40. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






41. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






42. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






43. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






44. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






45. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






46. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






47. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






48. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






49. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






50. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.